Building automation management

ABSTRACT

A method of building automation control from a computing device is provided and includes a computing device: accessing a building automation network through one or more network connections and identifying automated devices attached to that building automation network; determining a user interface structure for the automated devices and a device user interface for each automated device from device names of the automated devices on the building automation network; providing a user interface comprising the user interface structure and the device user interfaces on the computing device; and controlling one or more of the automated devices over one of the one or more network connections using instructions received over the user interface.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to building automation management. Inparticular embodiments, the invention relates to methods and apparatusfor user control of automation systems within a building over a networkconnection.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Building automation involves development of a system to monitor andcontrol different systems within a building that are appropriate tocontrol in this way. Some such systems—such as HVAC (heating,ventilation and air conditioning)—may have an existing control interfacethat needs to be integrated with other systems. Other elements—such aslighting, door control, and curtains and blinds—may be provided as partof a controlled system with an appropriate interface.

Individual systems within a building are typically proprietary, andthere may be proprietary variation in their native control interfaces.Where individual systems need to be integrated into an overall controlsystem, it is desirable to have a consistent way to address functionallyequivalent items from different proprietors. One approach to addressingthis issue is the BACnet (Buildings Automation and Control network)communication protocol developed by ASHRAE (the American Society ofHeating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) and standardizedunder ASHRAE/ANSI Standard 135 and ISO 16484-5. The BACnet protocoldefines a number of services for communication between building devicesand a set of BACnet object types.

BACnet is effective for identification and control of controllablesystems networked within a building and controlled by one (or more)controllers of a building control system within that network. A numberof proprietary building control systems, some designed for largeautomated buildings, others designed for home use. Typically suchsystems require very significant setup, as they require population of aproprietary control system, typically requiring extensive manual inputand often requiring engineering knowledge. When the building controlsystem has been fully set up, a user is provided with systemsinformation to allow for monitoring and control of the building systemsthrough a proprietary user interface.

In order to make the setup process more effective, it was proposed in US2016/0330285 to provide a controller with an integrated wireless networkchip. The controller could then use accessible networks to discovercontrollable devices, which could then be identified as suitable forcontrol by the building system controller and a control system for themdeveloped according to the functionality of the building control system.A user can then interact with the building system controller over asuitable user interface. A similar discovery system is taught in US2014/0018940 for the purpose of establishing a building model, which canthen be used for testing and optimisation of a building managementsystem during development.

It would be desirable to achieve an approach to management of automatedbuilding systems that would allow user set up and control that could beachieved rapidly and without detailed engineering knowledge.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention provides a method of buildingautomation control from a computing device, comprising the computingdevice: accessing a building automation network through one or morenetwork connections and identifying automated devices attached to thatbuilding automation network; determining a user interface structure forthe automated devices and a device user interface for each automateddevice; providing a user interface comprising the user interfacestructure and the device user interfaces on the computing device; andcontrolling one or more of the automated devices over one of the one ormore network connections using instructions received over the userinterface. This approach is particularly effective as it allows a userto build a suitable controller interface “on the fly” from discovery ofthe automated devices available in the environment of interest to theuser, and does not require central control or extensive setup.

In embodiments, the user interface structure is determined from a devicename on the building automation network. Such a device name may comprisea primary keyword representing a device location, and it may alsocomprise one or more secondary keywords representing a device controlfunction. In particular embodiments, the building automation networkuses a BACnet protocol, and wherein said device name is anidentification for a BACnet object. This approach uses conventions andstructures built into existing protocols such as BACnet to alloweffective creation of a user control interface.

In embodiments, identifying automated devices comprises identifyingdevices associated with one or more access nodes on the buildingautomation network. In particular cases, this may comprise identifyingdevices associated with a plurality of access nodes, and wherein theuser interface structure organises automated devices by location ratherthan by access node. The user interface may then provide an option toapply default device settings for one or more of said locations—forexample, a default set of values to be used if a room or region of thebuilding is occupied. In some cases, an access node may be merely ameans of accessing a particular network. In others, the access node mayalso be a control node adapted for control of one or more devices.

In embodiments, the building automation network is adapted so thatmultiple computing devices can control the automated devices.

In embodiments, the method further comprises providing user feedbackfrom a user of the computing device to the building automation system.

In embodiments, the method may further comprise reporting changes toautomated device state to the automated building network.

In embodiments, there may be an administration server associated withthe building automation network, wherein changes made to automateddevice state from the user computing device may be reported to theadministration server.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a computing device adapted tooperate as a building automation controller, the computing devicecomprising a processor, a memory, a user interface means and a networkcommunication means, wherein the processor is adapted to perform anapplication in the memory to carry out the functions of: accessing abuilding automation network through the network communication means andidentifying automated devices attached to that building automationnetwork; determining a user interface structure for the automateddevices and a device user interface for each automated device; providinga user interface comprising the user interface structure and the deviceuser interfaces on the user interface means; and controlling one or moreof the automated devices through the network communication means usinginstructions received over the user interface.

In embodiments, the computing device is further adapted to provide userfeedback to the building automation system from the user interface, andin embodiments the computing device is adapted to report changes made toautomated device state from the computing device to an administrationserver.

In a third aspect, the invention provides an administration server foruse with a building automation network, wherein the administrationserver is adapted to communicate with one or more access nodes in thebuilding automation network and is adapted to communicate with one ormore computing devices adapted to access the building automation networkand establish themselves as controllers for automated devices associatedwith the one or more access nodes, wherein the administration server isadapted to receive notification of changes made to automated devicestate from the one or more computing devices.

This administration server may be further adapted to receive userfeedback from users of the one or more computing devices.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a system comprising anadministration server for use with a building automation network,wherein the administration server is adapted to communicate with one ormore computing devices adapted for building automation control asdescribed above. Advantageously, said administration server is adaptedto receive information concerning building control from the one or morecomputing devices. Preferably, the administration server is adapted toevaluate building network performance from this information, andpreferably the administration server is also adapted to provide buildingnetwork performance data to the one or more computing devices foranalysis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example,with reference to the accompanying Figures, of which:

FIG. 1 shows control of building automation systems with a conventionalbuilding management system;

FIG. 2 shows control of building automation systems according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a user computer device suitable for implementingembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a process of creation of a building management controlinterface according to embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a discovery stage of FIG. 4 ingreater detail;

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of an interface population stage of theprocess of FIG. 4 in greater detail; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a sample user interface screen for a user mobiletelephone configured to act as a building management controller inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows control of building automation systems with a conventionalbuilding management system. The building comprises a number of rooms orzones 11, 12, 13, each of which may contain one or more automateddevices 31, 41, 51, 61. These automated devices may be standalonedevices, or part of a system. Three exemplary systems are shown—heating,ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system 30, lighting system 40and a door control system 50, each of which may have one or moreassociated devices in each room or zone. The automated device may be alocal controller (such as a thermostat) adapted to control the HVACdevices in that room or zone to achieve the intended control result.Blinds 61 in room 11 are shown as a separate, directly controlleddevice. This is of course only an exemplary arrangement and othersystems and devices may be controlled using the same approach, or thesedevices and systems excluded from building management if desired.

The devices are networked, either directly (for example, over a localwireless network, or by a wired network) or indirectly (via theirconnection to the system of which they form a part, which is then itselfconnected to other networks) to a building automation controller 70. Thebuilding automation controller 70, in this case a suitably programmedserver of a proprietary building management system, forms a hub of abuilding automation network. Typically this will use BACnet as aprotocol for communication with automated devices, but may also use aproprietary protocol. If BACnet is used, each controlled device willhave a name and properties appropriate to its location and functionaccording to the conventions of the BACnet protocol. The buildingautomation controller runs a proprietary building management applicationfor which each device and/or system to be controlled has been identifiedand registered, and in which an overall control system has beendeveloped.

A user 1 will have access to the building automation controller 70through an appropriate user interface. This may be, for example, throughthe user's mobile telephone 2 or other computing device, which connectsthrough an appropriate network connection (such as a local wirelessnetwork) to the building automation controller 70. The user interfacemay require the user 1 to provide credentials to log in to the buildingautomation controller 70, and when it is established that the user 1 isa legitimate user the user 1 has access to some or all of thefunctionality of the building automation controller 70.

FIG. 2 shows control of building automation systems according to anembodiment of the present invention. The system is similar to the systemof FIG. 1, but in this case no building automation controller isrequired (or, alternatively, a building automation controller may bepresent, but used for a separate set of systems or devices, or somesystems and devices may be under dual control). It is necessary for thedevices and/or systems to be networked, and for a building automationnetwork to exist, but this may simply identify the devices and/orsystems and their functionality rather than providing control, or simplyallow access to the network so that a network node can discover thisinformation from other network nodes—an access node 80 is shown for thispurpose. The networked zone 85 to which access node 80 provides accessis shown, but individual connections are not shown forclarity—individual devices within the networked zone may all beconsidered part of the network to which access node 80 allows access.

Access nodes 80 may be implemented differently in different embodiments.In some embodiments, an access nodes (or some access nodes) may simplybe used to gain access to a network, typically a local network handlingIP traffic—in this case the access node 80 may simply have the functionof a router. In other embodiments, the access node 80 may be a controlnode itself used to control one or more devices. Such an access node 80(or another connection) may in embodiments also be accessed by aspecialist superuser through an appropriate interface for systemconfiguration—a connection to administration server 90 is shown for thispurpose. As discussed below, administration server 90 has a differentpurpose to building automation controller 70, and does not act as agateway to the building automation control network of networked zone 85.

The user 1 again has a mobile telephone 2 or other computing device, andthis connects through an appropriate network connection (such as a localwireless network) to the building automation network. However, in thiscase, rather than providing an interface to a building automationcontroller, the user computing device discovers the devices present onthe network and develops a control interface on the fly, allowing ad hoccontrol of an existing building automation network. In FIG. 2, this isshown by connection to access node 80, which allows access to thebuilding automation network and allows mobile telephone 2 to actdirectly as a user controller, rather than just a user interface forcontroller 70 as in the FIG. 1 case. Where the BACnet protocol is used,the naming conventions and device properties attributed to devices usingBACnet are used to populate this control interface. BACnet protocol maybe used over an IP network, so standard networking arrangements may beused. The mobile telephone 2 also may connect as needed to theadministration server 90.

FIG. 3 shows a user computer device suitable for implementingembodiments of the invention. This may in principle be any usercomputing device, but in practice is most likely to be a mobiletelephone 2. The mobile telephone 2 has a processor 31 and a memory 32together defining a computing environment 33 supported by an operatingsystem 331 appropriate to the device (such as Android or iOS). Thecomputing environment 33 supports the operation of one or moreapplications, with building management application 332 being used toprovide embodiments of the present invention. The mobile telephone 2 hasa touchscreen user interface 35 which is used by the building managementapplication 332 to provide a control interface to the user. The mobiletelephone also has a wireless communications interface 34 providingconnection to cellular telephony networks, and also connection to localwireless communication networks using WiFi or other suitable protocols.

FIG. 4 shows a process of creation of a building management controlinterface according to embodiments of the present invention. The stepsare taken at a user computing device as shown in FIG. 3, and allowcontrol of automated devices from that user computing device.

First of all, the computing device accesses 410 a building automationnetwork through one or more network connections and identifyingautomated devices attached to that building automation network. Thebuilding automation network may be a BACnet network, but the approachused here could in principle be used with other building automationnetwork protocols.

The computing device then determines 420 a user interface structure forthe automated devices and a device user interface for each automateddevice. As will be described in detail below, in embodiments this may bedone by using BACnet naming conventions and BACnet object properties. Inother embodiments other approaches may be used, such as use of metadataassociated with automated devices and discoverable by the computingdevice.

The computer device then provides 430 a user interface comprising theuser interface structure and the device user interfaces on the computingdevice. This allows the user of the computing device to control 440 oneor more of the automated devices over one of the one or more networkconnections using the user interface.

This approach allows direct user control of automated devices in abuilding automation network without a preconfigured central controller.Control can take place directly after a dynamic process of discovery anduser interface creation that can take place directly after the usercomputing device accesses the building automation network.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a discovery stage of FIG. 4 ingreater detail. There may be an initial set up stage for the buildingmanagement application 332 on the user computing device 2 (hereafterthis combination will be referred to as “the user computing device 2”for convenience where unambiguous). At this point the user may be givena base IP address, port and controller ID for use by the buildingmanagement application—on initial use there may also be a uservalidation stage requiring connection to the administration server 90(or another validation server) to determine that the user is alegitimate user of the application with permission to access aparticular building automation network. In some cases, the buildingautomation network may relate to a large building of which the user isone of several legitimate users—typically in these cases the accessnodes may be accessed by multiple users and each user may control someor all of the controlled devices, which will then generally be undershared control. In other cases, the access node may be for a single homeand the user may be the only user of the access node.

The first stage 510 is for the user computing device 2 (specifically,the building control application on the user computing device 2, butthis will be abbreviated for simplicity) to access the buildingautomation network 500, for example by making a connection to the accessnode 80 (as shown in FIG. 2), or in other arrangements simply by joininga local network to which automated devices are already connected—theuser computing device may simply use the IP address 80 of the accessnode to access it, which as noted above may have been programmed in tothe user computing device 2 on application setup. The access node 80 maybe open, or may require the user computing device 2 to complete asecurity protocol (such as a system login, or provision of a credentialfor user identification) before the user computing device 2 can accessthe building automation network. When the user computing device 2 hasaccess, it then sends a message to ask for identification andfunctionality of automated devices local to that network. Thisinformation may be obtained from the access node 80, or may involvedirect discovery of objects on the network, but in either case in thisembodiment will provide BACnet information for each object allowingcontrol over BACnet. Device and Object Discovery are provided asavailable services within BACnet, so standard BACnet commands can beused to obtain this information.

After information from a first access node 80 is obtained, the usercomputing device can continue to scan 520 the network to look forfurther access nodes (either by being informed of, determining, ordiscovering their IP addresses) and controlled devices, or the user canchoose not to scan further so as only to obtain an interface for localdevices. The user computing device 2 has at this point a local database532 for the building control application 332 that contains names andproperties for BACnet protocol devices controllable over the buildingautomation network for at least one part of the building.

BACnet names and properties and their relevance to implementations ofthe invention will now be discussed. BACnet names, or keywords, relatedto objects are or may be applied using certain conventions that allowmeaningful identification of the relevant objects to a non-expert user,particularly when the keyword is recovered into equivalent Englishlanguage text. Primary keywords typically (but not exclusively) indicatea building room or area, as exemplified in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Primary Keywords and Meanings Primary Keyword English languagetext FLR1 First Floor FLR5 Fifth Floor BED1 Bedroom 1 STD Study GYM GymLIV Living Room REC Reception COMM Comms Room MTR Metering

Secondary keywords will generally be found associated with the primarykeywords—these will indicate specific controls associated with the spaceindicated by the primary keyword. Exemplary controls for the “Gym” space(primary keyword GYM) are shown in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Secondary Keywords and Meanings Primary and Secondary KeywordEnglish language text GYM TEMP Gym Temperature GYM TEMP SPNT GymTemperature Setpoint GYM LGT LVL Gym Light Level GYM LGT ON-OFF GymLight On-Off GYM B/ND POS Gym Blind Position

These are of course only exemplary primary and secondary keywords. For afull discussion of keywords available using BACnet protocol, the skilledperson is directed to reference materials for BACnet protocol such asASHRAE/ANSI Standard 135 and ISO 16484-5.

Other capabilities can also be included using this learned information.Identified room information may also be used to populate a room bookingapplication. A room booking diary maintained either on site or remotelyon an administration server (embodiments including an administrationserver are described below) may be accessible from the user interface ifthe room is identified as bookable. Room controls (such as temperature)may have different default values depending on whether a room isidentified as occupied or not occupied in the room booking application.

Other information may also be controlled or accessed by the userinterface that is not derived directly from BACnet information. In thecase of the room booker, the existence of the room is identified byBACnet information (the room name), and this can then be checked againsta room booker stored on a server using Internet Protocol (IP). Otherupdates may similarly be held on other systems and instructions sentover IP rather than BACnet.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of an interface population stage of theprocess of FIG. 4 in greater detail. At this point, the user computingdevice 2 has primary keywords typically representing zones or rooms andsecondary keywords representing controls and control types, and usesthem to populate a hierarchical menu-based user interface for the user,such that when a specific room or zone is selected user selectablebuttons are provided with appropriate labelling for all the controlleddevices (as represented by primary and secondary keyword combinations)for that room or zone.

It should be noted that user interface elements may be provided forBACnet objects that are not identified by the combination of locationand property as indicated above—for example, there may be controllableBACnet objects that are not associated with a particular location, orwhere the primary keyword or main BACnet description relates to acontrollable property or function rather than to a place. Such BACnetobjects can be provided with a user interface in the same way as namedrooms can be using embodiments of the invention.

It should also be noted that the user interface provided at the usercomputing device 2 may relate to more than one access node, but willorganise the data for the user in a logical hierarchical structurally,typically based on rooms or zones. For example, there may be threeaccess nodes relating to building control—one each for HVAC, blinds andlighting, for example—each relating to automated devices named using aBACnet protocol and using the same primary keywords for the same roomsor zones. Each of these access nodes may be interrogated in the discoverstage and objects representing automated devices held in the localdatabase in the user computing device. In construction of menus, theseobjects will then typically be grouped by primary keyword, so a menufor, say, the first floor zone will allow selection of any automateddevice in the floor zone, whichever of the three access nodes it isassociated with. User selection of an action at the user computingdevice will initiate communication with the relevant access node.

Firstly, a top level menu is generated 610 from the primary keywords.This corresponds to a menu of the rooms or zones that the user is ableto control with English language text on the user interfacecorresponding to the meaning of each primary keyword. The user may thenselect 620 a room or zone, and a secondary menu is generated 630. Thissecondary menu is derived from the secondary keywords associated withthe primary keyword for that room or zone, and corresponds to thedifferent controls and control types possible for that room or zone.

Digital and analogue inputs and outputs can all be assigned by thebuilding management application 332, as described below. When asecondary menu item is selected 640, the management application 332 willdetermine from the secondary keyword what type of user interface itemshould be presented 650 on the mobile telephone touch screen.

Digital Input—This indicates a controlled device status, and will bepresented as an information item on the display screen. One example isan alarm, or fault indicator—this will have two states, active orinactive. Rather than just being a displayed item, a triggering of anactive state on an alarm (if the management application is currentlyoperative and in contact with the controlled device) may result in anotification to the user which seizes focus from the currently activeapplication, as for a normal system alarm, and the notification type maybe specified at setup (for example, the alarm may be programmed tovibrate, bleep or ring). Alarms may be set to require acknowledgement ifdesired.

Digital Output—This generally enables switching of a device from onestate to another (for example, on/off or open/close).

Analogue Input—This generally indicates a value of a controlled deviceparameter, such as a currently measured temperature.

Analogue Output—This generally involves the management applicationsetting a controlled device parameter to a specified value. In thescanning phase, for objects of this type, upper and lower limits of eachvalue will be provided as part of the BACnet information. Theappropriate SI unit will also be identified or determined and displayedalongside the value.

Once the interface has been created by the application, adjustments,monitoring and control are all available to the user through the mobiletelephone (or other user computer) user interface. For an analogueoutput, this may be by a draggable slider. For a digital output, thismay be by an on-off button. Any user action may be provided with visualuser feedback, such as a change in displayed values or a colour changeto indicate a change of state. There may be specific outputs for somecases—for example, one special case of an analogue output would be amode selector for a heating system. The following options could forexample be selected by thumbwheel: Heating Only; Cooling Only; Fan Only;Automatic; and On/Off. The application may populate and display athumbwheel automatically in response to the secondary keyword MDE (formode). This is particularly appropriate for any device that has multiplemodes of operation—the object name and upper and lower parameter valuelimits may be used to generate specific user selectable modes fordisplay and selection.

Once a selection is made by the user at the user computing device 2,this will be communicated to allow control of the relevant automateddevice—typically using a BACnet protocol instruction over IP. Thiscommunication will be provided over the applicable network with theautomated device. The control instruction may be a standard BACnetinteraction, which may be implemented by the skilled person throughknowledge of BACnet protocol and its existing implementation.

As indicated above, instructions may be provided to other systems thatare not controlled through BACnet, such as a room booker held on anadministration server—in cases such as this, the update may simply takeplace over IP for processing by the administration server.

FIG. 7 illustrates a sample user interface screen for a user mobiletelephone configured to act as a building management controller inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. The screen 70 identifiesa selected zone 71 (“Bedroom 1”) and the three controllable parametersin that zone: temperature 72, lighting 73 and fan activity 74. Each ofthese parameters is selectable—in the view shown, temperature 72 hasbeen selected.

Temperature 72 is a numerical value within a range, represented in thedisplay by a display dial 721 showing an analogue position in a rangeand a digital display 722 with increase and decrease controls 723, 724.The increase and decrease controls 723, 724 are arrows which will resultin an increase or decrease in temperature on touching the screen 70,which acts as a touchscreen like any conventional smartphone interface,in the appropriate region. This is one exemplary interface to allow auser to vary a value to be set, but as the skilled person willappreciate, other interfaces customarily used on a smartphone can beemployed.

When the user has changed the temperature value, this change may besaved using save button 75. The screen may be refreshed using refreshbutton 76. Similar screens may be used for other controls.

The user interface may update automatically if there are changes made tothe controlled device values (which may be state changes, or changesresulting from action of the user or of other users), or may requiremanual refresh.

Status change may also result in alerts to users—these can be explicitlyrequested through the user interface (for example, by an interface for aparticular control that allows the user to establish a rule for analert, such as for a notification in respect of a room temperaturecontrol to be provided if the temperature of the room rises above acertain value). There may also be general alerts provided centrally bythe system, which may be provided to users if certain criteria are met(for example, if the user is known to have the application in an activestate—this could simply be done by providing messages to the applicationwhich will only be displayed if the application is active—or if the userhas submitted an update to a particular control within a particularperiod of time), or which may simply be sent to all registered users(for example by e-mail or text message). System messages could be sentwarning of upcoming events (such as fire alarm drills or emergencytesting) or other information relevant to users of the system or ofspecific buildings.

If it is desirable to provide related control items through the userinterface at the same time, for example multiple related analogueinputs, a “Merge” functionality can be used by using an intermediatekeyword MER. For example, if in scanning the management applicationfinds two objects with names BED MER TEMP Z1 and BED MER TEMP Z2—withthe merge keyword MER intermediate between the primary and secondarykeywords for BED, or “Bedroom”, then this would be rendered in the userinterface by displaying Bedroom Temperature Zone 1 and BedroomTemperature Zone 2 on the same Bedroom Temperature object page. Thismerge capability would be implemented automatically as a result of thescanning process and would require no user intervention.

In some cases, options could be provided to allow single button pressesto result in multiple updates. For example, default values can be setfor a user for a room which they are occupying, and a single “occupying”button may be provided on the automatically generated menu for the room.Pressing the “occupying” button could then set all the values to thedefault value.

The user interface could be customised in whatever way was appropriateto a particular user—for example, a variety of different languageoptions could be provided.

The user interface can be developed in embodiments beyond a puremonitoring and control interface, for example by allowing the user toprovide feedback that can be interpreted by an administration server 90.This may be more appropriate to a large shared use building rather thanin a single building controlled by an owner occupier, as it can be usedin developing a plan for building management for a multiple usebuilding, or simply to send messages to facility managers or conciergeservices. Pre-scripted wellbeing messages may be provided for selectionby the user, for example the following: “I am too hot”; “I am too cold”;“I am comfortable”; and “I would like to report . . . ”—the user mayalso be able to provide custom freeform messages in embodiments. Thislast message may in embodiments use a free form field, or may againinvolve selection from a series of possible faults or conditions ofconcern. If the user is not in network contact when the message is sent,it may be stored and sent when a network connection is re-established.In particular embodiments and where location services are enabled on auser mobile telephone, location may be logged against the message toallow the message to be responded to or used appropriately.

As shown in FIG. 2, an administration server 90 may provideadministrator level control and monitoring of the access node 80. Asingle administration server 90 may provide an administration interfacefor all the access nodes of a building, or may provide administrationinterfaces as a service for a number of clients, where a client mayrange from a user of a single building, building services for a multipleuse building, or even building services for an estate of buildings. Inembodiments, the administration server 90 does not provide directcontrol to the building, but determines which computing devices or usersare allowed to provide control, and also receives feedback from thecomputing devices.

An administration server 90 of this type may be employed for initialuser setup. The application may be downloaded to a user device and thenconnect to the administration server 90 on installation for setup. Theadministration server may have established user groups, each user groupcomprising users permitted to control specific buildings or groups ofbuildings. The user could register with the administration server 90 atthat point through a registration process typically establishing theuser identity and that the user had been granted this permission. Theuser would then be provided with an address, or addresses, that could beused for discovery of controlled objects in the controlled building orbuildings.

Communication between the user device and the administration server maybe protected by end to end encryption using an appropriate encryptiontechnology. Any encryption approach appropriate to a server clientinteraction could be used for this purpose.

The administration server 90 may provide levels of control (such asvariation of high and low point parameters, or other changes to a BACnetcontrolled device profile) not available to individual users, maymonitor all selections and changes made by users using their controlinterface, and may monitor independently of users different controlleddevice values—as indicated above, in embodiments the administrationserver 90 may not monitor the building directly but only by feedbackreceived from user devices. All data may be exported for remote reviewand for analysis, and changes made to the system or to its programmingmade in consequence. The administration server 90 is preferably directlyconnected to user devices via the access node 80—for example, there maybe a direct network connection between the administration server 90 andthe management application (for example by having an IP address for theadministration server programmed into the management application at orbefore user configuration) available whenever the mobile telephone hassuitable network connectivity. For the provision of feedback messages,the administration server 90 may be used to prepare reply messages or toschedule maintenance indicated as necessary by feedback.

The implementation of a building automation control interface through acomputing device also provides an effective tool for service engineers.Service engineers may be established as conventional users or superusersof the system, and may have additional capabilities to provide feedbackand testing notes. These may be provided to the administration server90, stored on the engineer's computing device or transmitted back toanother computer associated with the service engineer. This allowsservice engineer interactions to be as frictionless as possible, andprovides a flexible access model that may be particularly helpful incertain circumstances—for example, where the service engineer is workingwith a system which is not part of his regular servicing group, so hewould otherwise need to spend time and effort obtaining access to therelevant controller.

The administration server 90 can log all changes made to the system, andtherefore can provide analytic information to users, to serviceengineers, and to building owners or managers. Data may also be storedat individual controllers, or archived to a central location. Storeddata may be exported in a convenient format for further analysis.Following data analysis, messages indicating actions to be taken may befed back to users or to service engineers vai the application orotherwise. An instance of the building management application maytherefore be used only for analytic purposes if required, and not forcontrol. Using this approach, general purpose computing equipment can beused for data collection and analytics from a managed building simply bydownloading, installing and configuring the building managementapplication.

The skilled person will appreciate that the embodiments described hereare exemplary, and that modifications may be made and alternativeembodiments provided that fall within the scope of the invention.

1. A method of building automation control from a computing device,comprising the computing device: accessing a building automation networkthrough one or more network connections and identifying automateddevices attached to that building automation network; determining a userinterface structure for the automated devices and a device userinterface for each automated device from device names of the automateddevices on the building automation network; providing a user interfacecomprising the user interface structure and the device user interfaceson the computing device; and controlling one or more of the automateddevices over one of the one or more network connections usinginstructions received over the user interface.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the device name comprises a primary keyword representing adevice location.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the device namecomprises one or more secondary keywords representing a device controlfunction.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the building automationnetwork uses a BACnet protocol, and wherein said device name is anidentification for a BACnet object.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinidentifying automated devices comprises identifying devices associatedwith one or more access nodes on the building automation network.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein identifying automated devices comprisesidentifying devices associated with a plurality of access nodes, andwherein the user interface structure organises automated devices bylocation rather than by access node.
 7. The method of claim 6, furthercomprising the user interface providing an option to apply defaultdevice settings for one or more of said locations.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the building automation network is adapted so thatmultiple computing devices can control the automated devices.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises providing userfeedback from a user of the computing device to the building automationsystem.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising reporting changesto automated device state to the automated building network.
 11. Themethod of any preceding claim 1, wherein there is an administrationserver associated with the building automation network, wherein changesmade to automated device state from the user computing device arereported to the administration server.
 12. A computing device adapted tooperate as a building automation controller, the computing devicecomprising a processor, a memory, a user interface means and a networkcommunication means, wherein the processor is adapted to perform anapplication in the memory to carry out the functions of: accessing abuilding automation network through the network communication means andidentifying automated devices attached to that building automationnetwork; determining a user interface structure for the automateddevices and a device user interface for each automated device fromdevice names of the automated devices on the building automationnetwork; providing a user interface comprising the user interfacestructure and the device user interfaces on the user interface means;and controlling one or more of the automated devices through the networkcommunication means using instructions received over the user interface.13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the device name comprisesa primary keyword representing a device location.
 14. The computingdevice of claim 12, wherein the device name comprises one or moresecondary keywords representing a device control function.
 15. Thecomputing device of claim 12, wherein the building automation networkuses a BACnet protocol, and wherein said device name is anidentification for a BACnet object.
 16. The computing device of claim12, wherein identifying automated devices comprises identifying devicesassociated with one or more access nodes on the building automationnetwork.
 17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein identifyingautomated devices comprises identifying devices associated with aplurality of access nodes, and wherein the user interface structureorganises automated devices by location rather than by access node. 18.The computing device of claim 12, wherein the computing device isfurther adapted to provide user feedback to the building automationsystem from the user interface.
 19. The computing device of claim 12,wherein there is an administration server associated with the buildingautomation network, wherein the computing device is adapted to reportchanges made to automated device state from the computing device to theadministration server.
 20. An administration server for use with abuilding automation network, wherein the administration server isadapted to communicate with one or more access nodes in the buildingautomation network and is adapted to communicate with one or morecomputing devices adapted to access the building automation network andestablish themselves as controllers for automated devices associatedwith the one or more access nodes, wherein the administration server isadapted to receive notification of changes made to automated devicestate from the one or more computing devices.
 21. The administrationserver of claim 20, wherein the administration server is further adaptedto receive user feedback from users of the one or more computingdevices.